The 18 refurbished 5 coach trains for the Portsmouth Direct (2 + 2 seating) appear to be Class 442s equipped with a new traction package, replacing that which came from the 4-REPs and now 50 years old.

For liveries, time to get the SWT photos over the next four months or so.

Saturday, 25 March 2017

Potentially the last Class 47 on Southampton Maritime, 47771 has been prepared with a through brakepipe hose for the drag move to Eastleigh Works.

47771 was new from Brush at Loughborough on 6th July 1966, as D1946 allocated to D16 on the London Midland Region (Toton). With ETH fitted, it was renumbered to 47503 in May 1974, and then 47771 in June 1994. Withdrawn in April 2000, and preserved in June 2003.

The locomotive carried the name The Geordie from August 1998 to June 1991, previously carried by 47403 and 47411. Later named Heaton Traincare Depot from 18th March 1993.

My own first sighting of 47503 was on 18th February 1984, arriving at Southampton with a cross-country service.

Sunday, 19 March 2017

Brodie Engineering in Kilmarnock has recently converted Mk 2E BSOs 9506 and 9508 into nuclear escort vehicles, which are fitted with hopper windows, and have had gangways removed and replaced with glazed ends. It is not yet clear if these will be in addition to, or will replace Mk 2A BSOs 9419 and 9428, which are currently in use.

There are few photographs so far of the converted BSOs. 9508 is seen here, but the reported hopper windows cannot be discerned. UPDATE:can be seen here.

While in the ownership of Cargo-D, 9506 is the first vehicle in this railtour at Crampmoor, 14th August 2010.

Closer detail of 9506.

Before Cargo-D, 9506 ran for Wessex Trains. Here Mk 2F BSO 9525 is seen at Westbury, this also now being in the inventory of DRS.

9508 was kept at Barrow Hill in recent years, seen here on 6th July 2013.

9419 and 9428 are seen here at the Open Day at Gresty Bridge, 19th July 2014, soon after a repair at Eastleigh.

Friday, 3 March 2017

50t rail flat wagons are rather interesting, since their underframes are relatively ancient. This example is actually relatively new, being built by Teeside B&E in 1958, other examples go back to 1952.

DB996530 is a YKA 'Osprey' most recently converted in 2009 when the stanchions were fitted.